System and method for recording a signal using a central point of control

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium. By selecting the program from the index, the recorded program can be automatically located on the recording medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of 09/556,719, filed Apr. 21, 2000,entitled “System and Method for Recording a Signal Using a Central Pointof Control” which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/244,222, filed Feb. 4, 1999, entitled “System and Method ofInterconnecting and Using Components of Home Entertainment System,”which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/154,609, filed Sep. 16, 1998, and entitled “System for EnhancedEntertainment System Control,” all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recording a signal received by a homeentertainment system. More specifically, the present invention isdirected to systems and methods for managing and recording a signalusing a central point of control in a home entertainment system thatincludes an interconnection of a television set or another displaydevice and various consumer electronics devices such as VCRs, stereosystems, video disk players, satellite receivers, cable boxes, videogame players, and Internet terminal devices.

2. Background and Relevant Art

The television has been a source of entertainment for individuals sinceits introduction and traditionally has been a fairly simple device forusers to set up and connect. A user simply unboxed the television,connected the antenna, plugged in the power cord and turned on thetelevision. Once on, a user could control the functions of thetelevision by adjusting dials or buttons on the television or sendinginformation to the television via a remote control.

Since the inception of television, other consumer electronics devicesthat may be connected to a television have been introduced. Forinstance, VCRs, video disk players, and video game devices provideenhanced entertainment. Cable television services and satellitereceivers along with traditional broadcast antennas provide reception ofvideo programming. Home theater systems provide surround sound and neartheater quality audio. Internet terminals, such as WebTV boxes developedby WebTV Networks, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., allow consumers toconnect to the Internet and to send and receive information, using atelevision as the display device. Using the foregoing electronicconsumer devices or others in combination with a television, consumerscan now select and configure a wide variety of home entertainmentsystems.

Although many consumer electronics devices now exist, connecting,continuing, and managing multiple devices in order to realize the fullbenefit of each component of a home entertainment can be extremelydifficult and frustrating. The interconnection of the devices requires avariety of types of connectors that vary dramatically from device todevice. Connectors include coaxial cables, a variety of RCA-typeconnectors for audio and/or video, S-video connectors, and so forth.Further limitations are introduced to the home entertainment system ifthe devices being used run on the various video and audio standards offoreign countries, since the standards may not be compatible with eachother.

One of the most difficult tasks for a user of a home entertainmentsystem is to determine how to interconnect multiple electronic consumerdevices such that each is appropriately connected to the television. Asthe number of devices to be connected to the television increases, thesense of frustration on the part of the user can escalate. In fact,various configurations can be so complicated that users refuse toconsider purchasing additional consumer electronics devices because theycannot figure out how to connect and manage them together. Even inproperly configured and interconnected home entertainment systems, theperformance of many devices suffer when the television is connected tomultiple devices. The overall result of the increasingly diverse typesof consumer electronics devices that may be included in homeentertainment systems is often confusion, suboptimal performance, or aless than ideal user experience.

The conventional method for connecting devices in a home entertainmentsystem is the “daisy chain” method. To illustrate the conventional daisychain method and the magnitude of its limitations, reference will now bemade to FIGS. 1-3, which depict an increasing level of complexity asconsumer electronics devices are added to a home entertainment system.FIG. 1 illustrates a basic configuration that enables a user to accesstelevision without any scrambled channels and to access the Internet. Atelevision antenna jack 14 is connected to an Internet terminal 12,which can be a special-purpose computer system that enables Internetaccess and permits a user to browse and retrieve information from theInternet to the television screen. One such Internet terminal is thepreviously-mentioned WebTV box. Internet terminal 12 is in turnconnected to a television 10. Both Internet terminal 12 and television10 are connected to an A/C power jack 18. Internet terminal 12 is alsoconnected to a telephone jack 20. A remote control 16 enables the userto provide input to the Internet terminal 12. In this basicconfiguration, the user experience is generally relatively high. Thegreatest potential source of confusion is introduced by the many ways toconnect the television 10. The user typically has to match thetelevision output of Internet terminal 12 with the correspondingchannel, such as channel 2, 3 or 4, of television 10. In addition,depending on the television programming signal available and the natureof the components of the home entertainment system, the connectionbetween Internet terminal 12 and television 10 may be established bycoaxial cable, RCA cables, or S-video cables. Once the appropriateconnections are established, the home entertainment system of FIG. 1operates on a relatively intuitive and understandable way.

As one more device is introduced into the home entertainment system, theuser experience is often significantly diminished. If one or more of thechannels are scrambled or if the cable feed is digital, the homeentertainment system must include a cable box, as illustrated in FIG. 2.The cable television jack 24 is connected to a conventional cable box22, which is connected to Internet terminal 12, which is connected inturn to television 10. Internet terminal 12 and television 10 are alsoconnected to the A/C power jack 18, while Internet terminal 12 isfurther connected to a telephone jack 20. In order to allow a user tochange channels and control the various devices by remote control 16,Internet terminal 12 may incorporate a mechanism that prevents the userfrom having to use a separate remote control for each consumerelectronics device and enables components of the home entertainmentsystem to be controlled even if they are not in the line of sight ofremote control device 16. For example, Internet terminal 12 can have anassociated IR blaster (an infrared emitter) 26 for relaying remotecontrol signals from Internet terminal 12 to one or more other consumerelectronics devices. In the example of FIG. 2, the user can changechannels on cable box 22 by transmitting the appropriate signal fromremote control device 16 to Internet terminal 12. Internet terminal 12then relays the signal to cable box 22 using IR blaster 26.

The interdevice connection required for the cable television andInternet access illustrated in FIG. 2 introduces several problems andlimitations. This configuration requires not only the television 10 betuned to the appropriate input channel, but also Internet terminal 12 beproperly tuned. The difficulty of connecting the devices of FIG. 2 iscompounded by the fact that television 10 and the Internet terminal 12may need to be tuned to different channels. Therefore, when Internetterminal 12 is turned off and the cable box signal is “passed through”to television 10, an unexpected television channel from cable box 22 mayappear on the television.

Despite its usefulness, IR blaster 26 further complicates the task ofconfiguring the home entertainment system. In particular, the user mustposition IR blaster 26 so that IR receiver 28, located on the cable box22, can receive the signal from the IR blaster. This sometimes requiressignificant trial and error. Further, signals from remote control 16sometimes interfere with the signals emitted from IR blaster 26, causingan undesired response from cable box 22.

Adding yet another consumer electronics device to the home entertainmentsystem has been associated with an unacceptable level of complexity formany users who practice conventional interconnection techniques. In oneexample, FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional configuration 8 that includesa VCR. The daisy chain includes cable television jack 24, cable box 22,VCR 30, Internet terminal 12, and television 10. Internet terminal 12,television 10, and VCR 30 receive power by being each connected to A/Cpower jack 18 via adapter 32. Internet terminal 12 is also connected toa telephone jack 20, an IR blaster 26 for relaying remote controlsignals to IR receiver 28 on cable box 22, and another IR blaster 34 forrelaying remote control signals to IR receiver 36 on VCR 30. Thedifficulty of understanding how to connect and operate the homeentertainment system of FIG. 2 is exacerbated by the addition of VCR 30of FIG. 3.

In this configuration, VCR 30, Internet terminal 12, and television 10each needs to be tuned to channel 2, 3, or 4. The user can experienceconfusion as different channels appear on television 10, depending onwhich devices are on or off. Additionally, VCRs generally have afunction which allows the user to either pass through the RF from thecable box 22 or use the internal tuner of the VCR. Thus, it can bedifficult for Internet terminal 12 to determine whether an incomingsignal is transmitted form cable box 22 or from the tuner within VCR 30.The user of the home entertainment system of FIG. 3 must programInternet terminal 12 to control cable box 22 and VCR 30, as well asprogram remote control 16 to control television 10. There is also thepossibility that signals from remote control 16 could interfere withthose emitted from IR blaster 26 and IR blaster 34.

The specific order of devices in the daisy chain of FIG. 3 limits howthe devices can interoperate. By way of example, a VCR can only recordsignals that are either tuned by the internal tuner of the VCR or sentto the VCR. Therefore, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, VCR 30 canrecord the output of cable box 22 because it is being sent directly toVCR 30. However, the output of Internet terminal 12 is sent totelevision 10. Therefore, VCR 30 cannot record the output of Internetterminal 12 since the output does not pass through VCR 30. Thus, certainimaginative uses of VCR 30 cannot be practiced because of the specificdaisy chain configuration required in the system of FIG. 3, in whichsome video output, such as that generated by Internet terminal 12, isnot received by the VCR.

It can be understood that the home entertainment system configurationsof FIGS. 1-3 represent only a small number of the many configurationsthat are possible. Many multiple-device systems that do not include anInternet terminal likewise suffer from complex interconnectionconfigurations that limit their use by consumers and otherwise preventmultiple consumer electronics devices from being advantageously used incombination. The basic problems illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 can be expectedto deepen as new consumer electronics devices are developed andmarketed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for interconnectingconsumer electronics devices in a home entertainment system, whereinmultiple electronics devices are directly connected to a central devicein a hub and spoke configuration. The invention further extends to thecentral device that is capable of interconnecting the consumerelectronics devices in the hub and spoke configuration so as to enable arecording system to record output from any desired electronics device,such as a cable box, a digital satellite system, an Internet terminal, avideo game console, and the like. Home entertainment systems configuredaccording to the invention are flexible, offer improved interoperabilityof components, and are easily set up, expanded, and maintained comparedto those configured according to conventional techniques.

In one implementation of the invention, multiple consumer electronicsdevices are connected to a central device. The central device hasmultiple, identical and interchangeable jacks that can receive cablesconnected to the consumer electronics devices. Because theinterchangeable jacks are identical, the user does not need tounderstand specific connection requirements for the various consumerelectronics devices. Instead, the user must merely remember that anappropriate cable must be connected between input or output ports on theconsumer electronics device and to any desired jack on the centralelectronics device. Connecting components of a home entertainment systemin this manner is significantly less complicated than the daisy chainconfiguration of the prior art.

Because the central device is interposed between any two consumerelectronics devices in the hub and spoke configuration, any signalstransmitted in the home entertainment system must pass through thecentral electronics device. The central electronics device can process,route, or otherwise respond to the signals in novel ways. For instance,any video or audio signal can be routed to and recorded by a VCR. Incontrast, many video signals in conventional daisy chain configurationsare not accessible by the VCR. For instance, in FIG. 3, video signalsgenerated by Internet terminal 12 are not accessible by VCR 30.

The identical, interchangeable jacks of the invention are compatiblewith cables that transmit S-video signals or RCA video signals.Accordingly, when a user connects a television set or another consumerelectronics device to the central electronics device, the user does notneed to understand the difference between S-video and RCA connections.The user merely needs to know enough to identify the appropriate cableand connect it to the television set and one of the identical jacks.Moreover, the user does not need to understand how video signals arepassed from a cable jack to a cable box and to the television and,optionally, through a VCR. Instead, the hub and spoke configurationrequires the user only to understand that each device should beconnected to the central electronics device.

The invention also extends to central electronics devices having thefeatures that allow them to be used in the hub and spoke configurationsdisclosed herein. The central electronics devices contain hardware andcomputer-executable instructions for sensing which cable is connected toeach of the identical jacks and for formatting or responding to signalspassing through the jacks.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. These and other objects and features of the presentinvention will become more fully apparent from the following descriptionand appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the inventionas set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantagesand objects of the invention are obtained, a pore particular descriptionof the invention briefly described above will be rendered by referenceto specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appendeddrawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be consideredlimiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explainedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional configurationfor a home entertainment system in which an Internet terminal isconnected to a television;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the home entertainment systemof FIG. 1 with the addition of a cable box, wherein the components areconnected one with another in a daisy chain configuration;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting the home entertainment system ofFIG. 2 with the addition of a VCR;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a back panel of a central electronicsdevice according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating aplurality of identical, interchangeable jacks;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the components of a centralelectronics device that provide Internet access;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram depicting a basic hub and spokeconfiguration of a home entertainment system;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing the home entertainment system ofFIG. 3 having been configured according to the hub and spokeconfiguration of the invention;

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating the home entertainmentsystem of FIG. 7A having an IR emitter and an IR repeater;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple consumer electronicsdevices connected to a central electronics device in a hub and spokeconfiguration;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram depicting the components of a centralelectronics device that can be used to insert electronic programmingguide information in a recording of video programming on a videorecording medium;

FIG. 10 illustrates one example of programs recorded on the recordingmedium of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of the centralelectronics device for sensing the cable type connected thereto andformatting electrical signals accordingly;

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict a cable that is compatible with both S-videoand RCA video signals; and

FIG. 13 show other cables that can be connected to the identical,interchangeable jacks of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to systems and methods for interconnectingconsumer electronics devices in a home entertainment system, whereinmultiple electronics devices are directly connected to a central devicein a hub and spoke configuration. The invention further extends to thecentral device that is capable of interconnecting the consumerelectronics devices in the hub and spoke configuration to enable arecording system to record output from any desired electronics device ofthe home entertainment system, such as a cable box, a digital satellitesystem, an Internet terminal, a video game console, and the like. Homeentertainment systems configured according to the invention areflexible, offer improved interoperability of components, and are easilyset up, expanded, and maintained compared to those configured accordingto conventional techniques.

The invention is described below by using diagrams to illustrate eitherthe structure or processing of embodiments used to implement the systemand method of the present invention. Using the diagrams in this mannerto present the invention should not be construed as limiting of itsscope. The embodiments of the present invention may comprise a specialpurpose or general purpose computer including variouscomputer-executable instructions or computer hardware, as discussed ingreater detail below.

The invention will be described below in reference to consumerelectronics devices included in a home entertainment or informationretrieval system. In this context, “consumer electronics device” or“electronics device” is used to refer to any number or type of variousconsumer electronics devices that provide audio output, video output, orinformation services or can be connected to a television set. Suchdevices include, but are not limited to, cable boxes, satellitereceivers, video cassette recorders (VCRs), video game consoles, videodisk players, home theater equipment, home stereo equipment, Internetterminals, personal computers, and television sets. “Home entertainmentsystem” refers to a system that includes one or more consumerelectronics devices and provides audio and/or video output to a user andis not limited to those that are used in residential buildings.“Information retrieval system” refers to a system that includes one ormore consumer electronics devices and provides Internet or otherinformation services to a user.

Certain embodiments within the scope of the present invention includecomputer-readable media having computer-executable instructions or datafields stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any availablemedia which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purposecomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer readablemedia can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage,. magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, orany other medium which can be used to store the desiredcomputer-executable instructions or data fields and which can accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of theabove should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions. In some contexts, the computer-executableinstructions will be described as program modules being executed by acomputer or processor within a consumer electronics device. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data. The computer-executable instructions, associated datastructures, and program modules represent examples of the program codemeans for executing the steps of the methods disclosed herein.

Exemplary Computing Environment

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of a central electronics deviceaccording to the invention. A “central electronics device” is anyconsumer electronics device that can function as a central device in ahub and spoke architecture of a home entertainment or informationretrieval system as disclosed herein. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and5, the central electronics device also functions as an Internetterminal. However, in other embodiments, the central electronics devicecan merely function as a central device in the hub and spokearchitecture or can instead provide additional functions by beingintegrated in any other consumer electronics device.

FIG. 4 illustrates the back panel of a central electronics device 40.Central electronics device 40 includes means for electrically connectingeach of a plurality of electronics devices to the central electronicsdevice in a hub and spoke configuration. Jacks 42 represent one exampleof such means. Each of the jacks 42 is an identical connector that canbe used to connect any of the plurality of consumer electronics devicesto the central electronics device. Unlike the separate audio, RCA cable,S-video, and other connectors typically found in conventionalelectronics devices, jacks 42 can be used to transmit or receive any ofa variety of video, audio, or data signals from the consumer electronicsdevices. For instance, any particular jack 42 can function with stereoor mono audio signals, S-video signals, or RCA signals. This capabilityis described in greater detail below and enables central electronicsdevice 40 to conveniently interconnect cable boxes, satellite receivers,video tape recorders, video game consoles, video disk players, hometheater equipment, home stereo equipment, television sets, and otherconsumer electronics devices without the user having to understand thedifferent cables and connection techniques that have been conventionallyused in home entertainment systems. The number of jacks 42 can be enoughto provide input to or output from each of the other consumerelectronics devices included in the home entertainment system. While tento twelve jacks 42 have are often enough to support a reasonably complexhome entertainment system, the number may be greater or smallerdepending on the number of other consumer electronics devices.

Central electronics device 40 further includes an AC power input 44, aphone jack 46 (to support the optional Internet access or otherinformation services), and optionally a universal serial bus (USB) port48 and a digital terrestrial antenna 50. A coaxial cable input 52receives cable television signals from a cable provider.

The features of central electronics device 40 that permitinterconnection of the consumer electronics devices included in a homeentertainment system can be integrated with the components of anInternet terminal as illustrated in FIG. 5. For instance, centralelectronics device 40 can include the Internet access and dataprocessing components that have been found in Internet terminals thatuse television sets as display devices. In one example, centralelectronics device can be a WebTV box that has been modified to functionas a central device in a hub and spoke configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of central electronics device 40 that areused to provide information retrieval services. Central electronicsdevice 40 includes hardware and computer-executable instructions forproviding the user with a graphical user interface, by which the usercan access Internet resources, send and receive e-mail, and optionallyreceive other information services. Operation of central electronicsdevice 40 is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 54, which iscoupled to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 56. CPU 54executes computer-executable instructions designed to implement featuresof central electronics device 40. ASIC 56 contains circuitry which isused to implement certain functions of central electronics device 40.For example, ASIC 56 may be coupled to an audio digital-to-analogconverter 58 and to a video encoder 60, which provide audio and videooutput, respectively, to a television set included in the homeentertainment system.

Central electronics device 40 may further include an IR interface 62 fordetecting infrared signals transmitted by a remote control input device,such as a hand-held device or a wireless keyboard. In response to theinfrared signals, IR interface 62 provides corresponding electricalsignals to ASIC 56. IR interface is one example of means for receivinginput from a user. Other examples include one or more buttons on centralelectronics device 40, an input device connected by a cable, or anyother mechanism for receiving input. A standard telephone modem 64 iscoupled to ASIC 56 to provide communication with a modem pool of anInternet service provider (ISP). In other embodiments, modem 64 may besupplemented or replaced with an ISDN modem, a cable modem or anothersuitable communications device.

Also coupled to ASIC 56 are a mask read-only memory (ROM) 66, a flash CDmemory 68, and a random access memory (RAM) 70. Mask ROM 66 isnon-programmable and provides storage of computer-executableinstructions and data structures. Flash memory 68 may be a conventionalflash memory device that can be programmed and erased electronically.Flash memory 68 may store Internet browser software as well as datastructures. In one embodiment, a mass storage device 72 coupled to ASIC56 is included in central electronics device 40. Mass storage device 72may be used to supply computer-executable instructions and datastructures to other components of the central electronics device or toreceive data downloaded over the Internet or provided from otherconsumer electronics devices in the home entertainment system. Massstorage device 72 may include any suitable medium for storingcomputer-executable instructions, such as magnetic disks, optical disks,and the like.

Application software and associated operating system software are storedin flash memory 68, or instead may be stored in any other suitablememory device, such as mask ROM 66 or mass storage device 72. Thecomputer-executable instructions that, according to one embodiment ofthe invention, are used to adapt video and audio signals to theparticular consumer electronics devices connected to the centralelectronics device 40 by means of jacks 42 are executed by CPU 54. Inparticular, CPU 54 executes sequences of instructions contained in oneor more of mask ROM 66, flash memory 68, and RAM 70 to perform certainsteps of the present invention that will be more specifically disclosedhereinafter.

Hub and Spoke Configuration

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a hub and spoke configuration of ahome entertainment system according to the invention. Centralelectronics device 40 represents the hub of the hub and spokeconfiguration. Cable box 122, VCR 130, television set 110, and consumerelectronics devices 106 and 108 are represented as being connected tocentral electronics device 40 by one of the spokes of the hub and spokeconfiguration. Likewise, cable jack 124 can be described as beingconnected by a spoke to central electronics device 40.

The hub and spoke configuration of FIG. 6 contrasts with the daisy chainconfiguration illustrated in the prior art systems of FIGS. 1-3. In thehub and spoke configuration, any video, audio, or data signalstransmitted between cable box 122, VCR 130, television set 110, consumerelectronics devices 106 and 108, and cable jack 124 must pass throughcentral electronics device 40. In the daisy chain configuration, signalspass through some or all of the components of the home entertainmentsystem, depending on the position of the transmitting and receivingcomponents in the daisy chain. For instance, in FIG. 3, signalstransmitted from Internet terminal 12 to television 10 do not passthrough VCR 30, nor is there any mechanism for routing the signals toVCR 30.

A home entertainment system configured according to the hub and spokeconfiguration of FIG. 6 can have as few as two components (e.g., centralelectronics device 40 and television 110) or as many components as canbe attached to the jacks of the central electronics device. As thenumber of components increases to three, four, or more, the advantagesof the hub and spoke configuration compared to the daisy chainconfiguration of FIGS. 1-3 become more pronounced.

The hub and spoke configuration of FIG. 6 has several advantages thatare not present in the daisy chain configuration. For example, allsignals pass through, are received by, or are transmitted by centralelectronics device 40. Accordingly, central electronics device 40 cancontrol, manage, process, reformat, route, or otherwise respond to anysignal transmitted, generated, or received by any of the devicesconnected to the central electronics device. In the daisy chainconfiguration of FIGS. 1-3 there is no single device that has access toall signals of the home entertainment system. Providing central accessto all signals in the home entertainment system enables the signals tobe processed in novel ways. For example, any video or audio signaltransmitted in the home entertainment system of FIG. 6, regardless ofits source or destination, can be transmitted to VCR 130 and recordedthereat. Other novel methods of processing and routing signals bycentral electronics device 40 may be understood by those skilled in theart upon learning of the disclosure made herein, and are likewiseencompassed by the invention.

Another advantage of the hub and spoke configuration of FIG. 6 is thatif one or more of the consumer electronics devices connected to centralelectronics device 40 fail, the remaining components of the homeentertainment system can continue to function. For example, if VCR 130is disabled, cable television programming can continue to be displayedon television 110. In particular, cable television signals can be passeddirectly from cable jack 124, through central electronics device 40, totelevision 110, bypassing a disabled VCR 130. In contrast, if VCR 30 ofFIG. 3 is disabled, cable television signals are prevented from passingfrom cable box 22 to television 10. In order to continue viewing cabletelevision programming on television 10, the user must manuallyreconfigure the home entertainment system of FIG. 3 by bypassing VCR 30.This basic limitation of the daisy chain configuration is overcome bythe hub and spoke configuration of the invention.

The hub and spoke configuration of the invention also greatly simplifiesthe process of connecting the components of a home entertainment system,maintaining the connections, and adding new consumer electronicsdevices. If a user adds a new consumer electronics device, the user mustmerely connect the new device to one of the identical jacks 42 of FIG.4. For example, if consumer electronics device 106 of FIG. 6 is a newvideo game console to be included in the home entertainment system, theuser must only remember how to perform the basic task of connecting anew consumer electronics device to central electronics device 40.Moreover, the task of connecting a new consumer electronics device tocentral electronics device 40 is basically the same, regardless ofwhether the new consumer electronics device is a video game console,stereo equipment, digital versatile disk players (DVDs) or the like.Thus, the user generally does not need to know any special requirementsfor connecting the video game console. Furthermore, the existingdevices, such as cable box 122 and VCR 130 of FIG. 6 do not need to berepositioned, reconfigured, or removed from the home entertainmentsystem 100.

In contrast to the ease of connecting and upgrading home entertainmentsystem 100, adding new consumer electronics devices to a conventionaldaisy chain system, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3, may be much moredifficult. For example, it is very likely that a user will have greatdifficulty connecting a new video game console to home entertainmentsystem 8. It is not clear where the video game console could be insertedinto system 8. Many users would resort to completely disconnecting allcomponents of system 8 from television 10 and replacing them with thevideo game console each time video games are to be played. In someconventional configurations, this is the only available approach.

Yet another advantageous feature of the hub and spoke configuration isthat it permits cable box 122 to tune scrambled television channelswhile central electronics device 40 tunes non-scrambled channels. Inthis embodiment, central electronics device 40 stores a copy of anelectronic programming guide (EPG) that indicates which channels arescrambled and which are not. Scrambled channels are routed to cable box122, where they are descrambled and returned to central electronicsdevice 40. Non-scrambled channels, as designated in the EPG, are notrouted to cable box 122, but are instead tuned in central electronicsdevice 40. Tuning non-scrambled channels in central electronics device40 takes advantage of the tuner in device 40 that may be significantlyfaster than the tuner in cable box 122. This method of tuningnon-scrambled channels in central electronics device 40 is possiblebecause all signals are accessible by device 40, which can reroute thesignals to cable box 122, if desired.

FIG. 7A illustrates a hub and spoke configuration of the invention thatcorresponds to the daisy chain configuration of FIG. 3. In FIG. 7A,cable jack 124 is connected to coaxial cable input 52, thereby providingcable video signals to home entertainment system 200. AC input 44receives electrical power, while phone jack 46 provides communicationwith an ISP. A remote control device 116 enables a user to provideinfrared signals to central electronics device 40 to control any desiredfunction of home entertainment system 200.

Television set 110 is connected to jack 42 a of central electronicsdevice 40 by means of an appropriate cable that transmits S-video or RCAsignals, depending on the type of the television set. As will be furtherdescribed below, jack 42 a and the other jacks 42 are compatible withS-video or RCA signals. Accordingly, the user selects the appropriatecable 154 based on the type of television set 110, connects one end ofthe cable to the television set and the other end to any desired jack 42(e.g., jack 42 a).

Cable box 122 is similarly connected to central electronics device 40.The user selects the appropriate cables that match the video input andoutput ports of cable box 122, and connects the cables to the cable boxand any desired jacks 42 (e.g., jacks 42 c and 42 d). Likewise, VCR 130is connected to jacks 42 e and 42 f. It is noted that the user does notneed to remember any special connection techniques when configuring homeentertainment system 200, but must merely remember that the video inputand output ports of television set 110, cable box 122, and VCR 130 areto be connected to any desired jack 42 using an appropriate cable.

As shown in FIG. 7A, an IR blaster assembly 156, having any desirednumber of IR blaster emitters (e.g., emitters 126 and 134), can beconnected to one of jacks 42. In this example, the user has connected IRblaster assembly 156 to jack 42 b and placed emitter 126 near cable box122 and emitter 134 near VCR 130. As the user enters IR signals usingremote control device 116, the signals are relayed to cable box 122 orVCR 130 in a format supported by the particular consumer electronicsdevice that is to be controlled.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, the IR blaster assembly is replacedby a single IR emitter 170 included within the housing of centralelectronics device 40. In this case, the single IR emitter 170 floodsthe room with IR energy that typically reaches the other consumerelectronics devices directly or by reflection. If the room in which thehome entertainment system is located does not have enough reflectivityto control the other devices with single IR emitter 170, an IR repeater172 can be positioned within the room in the line of sight of single IRemitter 170 so as to relay the IR signals to the other consumerelectronics devices.

Home entertainment system 200, configured in a hub and spokearchitecture, provides the advantages discussed above, including ease ofconnecting components and upgrading the system, central access tosignals, and continued use of the system in the event of failure of oneor more components.

FIG. 8 shows a home entertainment system including a larger number ofconsumer electronics devices. Home entertainment system 300 includescentral electronics device 40 connected to cable jack 124. Like system200 of FIG. 7, system 300 of FIG. 8 includes television set 110, cablebox 122, and VCR 130 connected to central electronics device 40. Itshould be noted that the foregoing consumer electronics devices havebeen connected to different jacks 42 in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, therebyillustrating that jacks 42 are interchangeable, and the user generallydoes not need to remember any special connection techniques for thevarious consumer electronics devices other than connecting them to anydesired jack 42.

System 300 further includes a digital satellite system receiver 160, aDVD player 162, a video game console 164, and stereo equipment 166, eachconnected to one of jacks 42. A further advantage of the centralelectronics device 40 and the hub and spoke configuration is that theycan be used with currently existing consumer electronics devices, suchas those illustrated in FIG. 8, as well as other consumer electronicsdevices that may be available in the future.

Video Recording Capabilities

The invention extends to enhanced video recording methods that areenabled by central electronics device 40 and the hub and spokeconfiguration of the invention. Because all signals of the homeentertainment systems configured according to the invention can beaccessed and rerouted by central electronics device 40, a videorecording system included in the home entertainment system can be usedto record video signals in novel ways.

As noted in reference to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the centralelectronics devices of the invention can access and store informationretrieved from the Internet or other information sources. For instance,as shown in FIG. 9, central electronics device 240 includes an EPG store220 for storing an electronic programming guide that includes videoprogramming information relating to television programming available tobe viewed or recorded with the home entertainment system. Electronicprogramming guides are known in the art, and often include the programstart time, duration, title, description, ratings, and other informationrelating to a television program. Central electronics device 240receives an EPG from an EPG source 222, which may be an Internet siteaccessible by device 240, a digital satellite service, a cable serviceprovider, or any other source.

Central electronics device also includes recording instructions 224provided by a user of the system to instruct a VCR control module 226how to control operation of VCR 230. Recording instructions may compriseinstructions stored on a computer-readable medium in central electronicsdevice 240. In this case, the instructions may be stored when a userprograms central electronics device 240 in order to cause VCR 230 torecord a selected program at some later time. Alternatively, recordinginstructions 224 may comprise real-time signals input to centralelectronics device 240 to cause VCR to operate without delay. The usercan use remote control device 216 to input recording instructions 224 ormay instead use another input device associated with the homeentertainment system.

Assume that recording instructions 224 include instructions to cause VCRto record a selected video programming at 3:00 p.m. According to oneembodiment of the methods for recording video programming, at a timejust before 3:00 p.m., central electronics device 240 causes programminginformation included in EPG store 220 to be recorded at a selectedportion of recording medium 232. For example, VCR control module 226 canreceive the title and description of the video programming, or any otherEPG programming information, from EPG store 220. The programminginformation is then transmitted to VCR 230, where it is recorded at theselected portion of recording medium 232. Thus, VCR control module 226and EPG store 220 represent examples of means for transmittingprogramming information stored in the EPG and the VCR. The programminginformation can be used to create a title page for the videoprogramming.

At 3:00, VCR control module 226 transmits the video signal that isreceived from video source 234 to VCR 230. The video signal, whichcontains the selected video programming, is recorded on recording medium232. In the vertical blanking interval (VBI) or the overscan area of thevideo signal, central electronics device 240 can insert the name of thevideo programming and the frame number. After recording, VCR controlmodule 226 causes VCR 230 to rewind (or forward) recording medium 232 toa specified location. EPG programming information is then recorded inthe VBI or overscan area of recording medium 232 at the specifiedlocation and becomes, in effect, indexing information describing thevideo programming recorded on the recording medium.

FIG. 10 represents recording medium 232, which may be a segment of videotape, with programs A, B, and C recorded thereon. Programs A, B, and Chave been recorded on recording medium according to a recording methodof the invention, one embodiment of which has been described above inreference to FIG. 9. Indexing information 238 has been recorded on theVBI or overscan area of a specified location 242 of recording medium232. Indexing information includes entries 238 a, 238 b, and 238 c,corresponding to programs A, B, and C, respectively. In this example,indexing information references the location of recording medium 232 atwhich the beginning of the corresponding programs are recorded. Forinstance, entry 238 a references location 244 a, entry 238 b referenceslocation 244 b, and entry 238 c references location 244 c. Additionally,entries 238 a-c can include the program title, description, duration,and/or any other EPG programming information.

Recording medium 232 of FIG. 10 can be used to describe several of anessentially unlimited number of indexing techniques that can be used torecord, view, and manage the contents of the recording medium. Forexample, in one embodiment of the invention, the system of FIG. 9automatically determines whether recording medium 232 has enough freespace 246 to record a program D as instructed by the user of the system.In particular, VCR control module 226 can read indexing information 238to determine the size of free space 246. If programming informationassociated with program D stored at EPG store 220 indicates that freespace 246 is large enough to record program D, recording medium 232 isused to record program D at the specified time. If, however, free space246 is not large enough, the user is prompted to insert anotherrecording medium into VCR 230.

Thus, the invention can automatically track the amount of free space 246available on recording medium 232. The user does not need to manuallytabulate the size of free space 246 or to make unreliable estimates. Asa result, the system of FIG. 9 can reliably ensure that a video programwill be recorded on the recording medium without losing the tail end ofthe program. In contrast, losing the tail end of a recorded videoprogram when the recording medium is filled has been frequentlyexperienced by users of conventional home entertainment systems.

Moreover, users do not need to manually advance a video cassette to thebeginning of the free space when using the invention. Instead, theindexing information 238 of FIG. 10 identifies start 248 location offree space 246. Thus, when a user desires to record program D, VCRcontrol module 226 can record an entry in indexing information 238corresponding to program D and then forward (or rewind) recording medium232 to the start location 248 of free space 246.

Indexing information 238 can enhance the experience of viewing videoprogramming recorded on recording medium 232. For example, indexinginformation 238 can be displayed to the user by means of television set210, thereby informing the user of the contents of recording medium 232.Again, the user is relieved of the task of manually tabulating thecontents of recording medium 232. As indexing information 238 isdisplayed to the user, the user can learn of the title, description, andother information relating to the video programming, which typicallyincludes information that is not likely to have been manually tabulatedaccording to conventional techniques.

Optionally, the user can select the desired video programming afterviewing indexing information 238 on television 210. For example, theuser might decide to view program B of FIG. 10. If so, the user makesthe selection using remote control device 216 or any other input device.VCR control module 226 then automatically advances recording medium 232to location 244 b of FIG. 10, where program B begins. Using this methodof the invention, the user is relieved of the often time-consuming taskof manually searching for the beginning of a video program recorded on arecording medium.

It should be noted that the foregoing and other novel video programmingrecording methods cannot be practiced with the conventional daisy chainarchitecture of FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 3, EPG information that may be storedat Internet terminal 12 is not accessible by VCR 30, and thereforecannot be recorded by the VCR.

Interchangeable Jacks

As noted in reference to FIGS. 4 and 6-8, jacks 42 represent one exampleof means for electrically connecting each of the plurality of consumerelectronics devices to the central device in a hub and spokeconfiguration. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, jacks 42 ofFIG. 4 are identical and interchangeable, and can be used with stereo ormono audio signals and S-video or RCA video signals. Jacks 42 can beidentical in the sense that they have the same pin structure.

As shown in FIG. 11, central electronics device 40 includes sensors,other hardware, and/or computer-executable instructions for determiningthe type of cable 310 connected to jack 42. Cable 310 has been connectedto jack 42 as a user connects a consumer electronics device to centralelectronics device 40. The consumer electronics device may be anydesired device, including those depicted in FIG. 8. Cable 310 has a plug312 that connects with jack 42. Jack 42 and plug 312, according to oneembodiment, are a standard jack and plug pair such as those that areused in conventional portable stereo equipment and headphones and inpersonal computer microphones.

When the user connects cable 310 to jack 42, cable type sensor 314determines whether the cable is an audio-video (AV) cable or anaudio-only cable. For example, if cable 310 is connected to a digitalsatellite system (DSS) receiver, cable type sensor 314 determines thatcable 310 is an AV cable. Cable type sensor 314 then determines whetherthe cable is an input or output cable with respect to the consumerelectronics device. This can be performed by determining whether thereis an audio or video signal on the cable. For example, if the user hasconnected a DSS receiver to central electronics device 40, cable typesensor 314 will determine that cable 310 is an AV output cableassociated with a consumer electronics device.

When cable type sensor 314 has characterized cable 310 as AV oraudio-only and as an input or output cable, the cable type sensor mayneed additional information to identify the consumer electronics deviceassociated with cable 310. If so, central electronics device 40 canprompt the user to input the type of consumer electronics device. Thiscan be done by displaying a question or menu choices on a television setconnected to central electronics device 40. Although identifying theconsumer electronics device may require some user input, it does notrequire the user to understand whether cable 310 is AV or audio-only orwhether it is an input or output cable. In view of the foregoing, cabletype sensor 314 represents one example of means for identifying the typeof signals that are compatible with the consumer electronics devicesconnected to central electronics device 40.

Furthermore, in some instances, cable type sensor 314 can deduce theidentity of the consumer electronics device connected to cable 310 usingthe signals carried on cable 310 and conductivity properties of thecable. For instance, cable type sensor 314 can determine whether thecable conducts only in one direction (i.e., whether the cable includes adiode of an IR blaster) or measure the impedance of the jack todetermine if the cable is connected to a microphone or is an audioconnector.

Cable type sensor 314 can also determine whether the user has connectedan S-video cable or an RCA cable to jack 42 without the user having tounderstand the difference between these cable types. FIG. 12Aillustrates a cable that is compatible with both S-video and RCA videoformats. Cable 410 is supplemented with an S-video-to-RCA video adapter412, illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, that allows cable 410 to be usedwith televisions or other consumer electronics devices having eitherformat. Notably, plug 312 of cable 410 that connects to the centralelectronics device 40 of FIG. 11 is the same, whether cable 410 is usedwith S-video or RCA signals. Thus, the user inserts plug 312 into anydesired jack 42 on central electronics device 40. When the television tobe connected does not have an S-video connector, or when the userdesires to use the RCA video input, adapter 412 is coupled to the end ofconnector 414. Adapter 412 has a female S-video socket 416 that mateswith the male S-video pins of connector 414. At its other end, adapter412 has a male RCA video coupler 418. When cable 410 is instead to beused with an S-video format television, adapter 412 remains unconnectedto connector 414. In this case, connector 414 is coupled with thecorresponding S-video connector of the television.

Cable 410 can therefore be used to connect a television or anotherconsumer electronics device to a home entertainment system without theuser understanding the significance of the difference between S-videoand RCA connections. The user merely selects a jack 42 on the centralelectronics device 40 and uses the adapter 412 with cable 410, ifnecessary.

One possible method by which cable type sensor 314 can determine whethercable 410 is being used with the S-video or RCA format involves sensingwhether adapter 412 has shorted together two of the S-video pins. If so,cable type sensor 314 concludes that cable 410 is being used as an RCAcable. Otherwise, cable type sensor 314 concludes that cable 410 isbeing used as an S-video cable.

FIG. 13 illustrates representative examples of cables that can be usedin combination with the interchangeable jacks of the central electronicsdevices. Cable 500 is a stereo, audio-only cable having a plug 502compatible with the interchangeable jacks. Likewise, the other cables ofFIG. 13 also have a plug 502 compatible with the interchangeable jacks.Cable 510 is a microphone cable providing mono, audio-only output fromthe consumer electronics device, which in this case, is microphone 512.Cable 512 is a data cable providing input to IR blaster 514, which canbe understood as a consumer electronics device as used herein.

Referring now to FIG. 11, when cable type sensor 314 has determined thetype of cable (i.e., AV/audio-only and output/input), signal formatmodule 316 adapts any outgoing signals to the proper format of the cableand the associated consumer electronics device. Alternatively, signalformat also uses the identity of the cable and the consumer electronicsdevice to respond to incoming signals over cable 310.

When central electronics device 40 is to relay signals from one consumerelectronics device to another, it can reformat the signals, as needed,to correspond to the particular consumer electronics devices inquestion. For example, central electronics device 40 can receive videosignals in an S-video format from a cable box and transmit the signalsin an RCA format to a television. Thus, signal format module 316 andassociated signal transmission hardware represent examples of means forconverting an electrical signal between a first format compatible withthe central device and a second format compatible with one of theplurality of consumer electronic devices.

Thus, central electronics device 40 can be used to facilitatecommunication between the various consumer electronics devices connectedthereto. As noted herein, central electronics device 40 can haveInternet access capabilities, whereby Internet information can beretrieved and displayed on an associated television set. In oneembodiment, central electronics device 40 can have dual states offunctionality. In particular, central electronics device 40 can be fullybooted and powered to a state in which it can access the Internet.Alternatively, central electronics device 40 can be powered to a lowerstate of functionality, wherein it cannot access the Internet but canstill route electrical signals between consumer electronics devices.This lower state can be useful to quickly activate central electronicsdevice 40 when full Internet functions are not needed.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-executableinstructions for implementing a method for interconnecting a consumerelectronics device having one or more identical and interchangeableconnectors that support a variety of different cable types and one ormore other consumer electronics devices having one or more otherconnectors, wherein each of the one or more identical andinterchangeable connectors comprises one or more pins, and wherein atleast one pin is shared by different cable types, the method comprising:sensing a cable type for a cable connected to a particular identical andinterchangeable connector; configuring at least one pin of theparticular identical and interchangeable connector to carry electricalsignals appropriate for the sensed cable type, wherein the at least onepin is shared by different cable types; and carrying electrical signalson the at least one configured pin that are appropriate for the sensedcable type.
 2. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, whereinthe at least one pin of the particular identical and interchangeableconnector is configured as an output pin for transmitting electricalsignals.
 3. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, whereinthe at least one pin of the particular identical and interchangeableconnector is configured as an input pin for receiving electricalsignals.
 4. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, whereinthe electrical signals comprise a video signal.
 5. A computer programproduct as recited in claim 1, further comprising an act of simultaneousrouting multiple signals from multiple source consumer electronicdevices to multiple destination consumer electronic devices.
 6. Acomputer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the cableconnected to the particular identical and interchangeable connectorcomprises a resistor, and wherein the method further comprises an act ofsensing the cable type by determining the value of the resistor.
 7. Acomputer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the cableconnected to the particular identical and interchangeable connectorcomprises a memory storing an identification code, and wherein themethod further comprises an act of sensing the cable type by receivingthe identification code from the memory.
 8. A computer program productas recited in claim 1, wherein the cable interconnects the firstconsumer electronics device to a second consumer electronics device, andwherein the method further comprises an act of sensing the cable type byinterrogating the second consumer electronics device to determine thesecond consumer electronics device's type and thereby inferring thecable type.
 9. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, whereinthe cable comprises a plurality of pins, one or more of which are eitherconnected to ground or are open, and wherein the method furthercomprises an act of sensing the cable type by identifying a pattern ofthe one or more open or grounded pins that corresponds to the cabletype.